Loader



July 5, 1932.

F. F. WAECHTER ET AL LOADER Filed Dec. 22. 1927v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 H/NNPN, n n m July 5, 1932. F. F. wAEcHTER ET AL 1,365,654

v LOADER Filed Dec. 22. 1927 s sheets-sheet 2 July 5, 1932. F. F.wAl-:cH'rER ET AL I 1,865,654

LOADER FledvDeo. 22. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zaza Z357@ .der J @wt T-Patented July 5, 1932 i UNITED S'IATESv PATENT oFFicE FERDINAND F.WAECI-ITER AND LOUIS F. SNYDER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORSTO LINK-BELT COMIANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIORATION 0F ILLINOISLOADER Application led December 22, 1927. Serial No. 241,756'.

This invention relates to crawler loaders, and has for one object toprovide a new and improved form of crawler loader wherein the boom maybe tilted into the inoperative position, but wherein, during the timethat the boom is in the operative position, it is held positivelyagainst tilting` and constrained to a rectilinear movement only, towardand from the work, thus making available to force the digging end of theboom into the work, the entire weight of the boom applied along a linecoincident with the axial line of the boom. Another object of theinvention is to provide a boom wherein the center of gravity is aboveand to the rear of the pivot support at all times, so that when thelower or digging end of the boom is released automatically it swingsitself into the inoperative position. Another object of this inventionis to provide a light, rigid and durable thrust carrying means wherebythe power applied on the supporting track or wheels which carry thetruck may be directly applied to the digging end of the boom without thepresence of loose or adl juStable articulate connections, therebypromoting rigidity and providing a structure which does not tend toclimb up over the work, but which, on the contrary, can be used as apositive digging structure of suiiicient digging power to eXcavate solidmaterials and the like. Other objects will appear from time to time inthe specification and claims. The invention is illustrated more or lessdiagrammatically in the accompanying drawingswl wherein;

Figure l is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the Vlower boom track.

ported by means of a series of rollers A1, A1'

on an endless propelling track A2,*which track is driven by a sprocketA3 through a power transmission contained within the housing A4,' A5 andcontrolled by a clutch A6 from the motor A7. A8 is a take-up sprocketwhereby the tension in the track chain may be adjusted, and A9 areaplurality of idler rollers to support the return side of the trackchains. Projecting upwardly from the platform A is a rigid supportingframework A10. The details of the truck track in supporting theframework are not essential, and of course might be varied as desired.

Located on the forward portion of the frame-A10 are a pair of parallelforwardly and downwardly inclined tracks B. B1, B1 are iianged rollersor wheels adapted to 'travel along these tracks B and to carry inpivotal relation the boom B2. B3, B8 are sheaves located one at theupper end of each of the tracks B. Cables B4 are dead ended adjacent tothe' sheaves B3, extend down around sheaves B5 on the axle B6 on whichthe boom is pivotally mounted, thence back up the sheaves B3 and thencedown to the drums B7, about which they are wound. These drums are bothmounted on a housing shaft B8, which may be driven through a train ofgears contained within the housing B9 from a hand wheel B10, though ifdesired, of course, a power means could be provided to drive Vthe shaftB8. A brake, the details of which are not here shown, contained withinthe housing B9, is controlled by means of a brake lever.' B11, to lockthe shaft B8 in any desired position so that by manipulation of theshaft and two hoisting drums the rollers B1 may be moved along thetracks B and heldin position wherever desired.

The boom B2 comprises the usual type of built-up structural girder. Ithas, at its lower or digging end, a shaft C upon which are mounted aplurality of sprockets C1. This shaft C extends laterally at each endbeyond the sides of the boom, and carries a plurality of spirallyarranged paddles C2, these paddles being arranged to feed inwardlytoward the center of the boom on both sides, and being, therefore,arranged about opposite spirals. At the upper end of the boom aresprockets C3, C3 mounted in adjustable bearings G4', there being take-upbolts C5 to adjust the position of these bearings and control thetension in the sprocket chains C, C6 which travel around the sprocketsat both ends of the boom and carry at spaced intervals therealong theexcavating and conveying buckets G7. The chain is intended to operate ina counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 1 and the buckets travelin the direction as indicated by the arrow. C8 are side plates onopposed sides of the buckets extending over a point above the loadingend of the boom to the discharge end.

Extending along the underside of the boom from a point beneath thedischarge ends of the buckets down to a point immediately behind theloading end of the boom is a rigid fixed spill apron and bucket guideplate D. This apron protects the mechanism from spillage from thebuckets and serves as a guide plate along which the buckets may travelon the return movement to the loading end of the boom. At the upper endof this guide plate D is a fixed chute D1 which discharges into anadjustable chute D1. This adjustable chute is mounted on the shaft D3,there being an adjustable link D4 whereby the angle of inclination ofthe chute D2 may be Varied. D5 is a worm wheel on the shaft D3 in meshwith a worm D6 on the worm shaft D7. A wheel D8 on the shaft may berotated by means of a chain Dg to adjust the chute D2 angularly tocontrol the direction of discharge.

At the lower end the apron D terminates in a cutting edge or lip Ehaving a removable reinforced angle E1 extending across the machinebehind and substantially in line with the excavating buckets. Thiscutting lip is reinforced by the angles E2 and tied into the boomstructure by the diagonal angles E3, E4 to give the necessary strength.E5, E5 are brackets extending downwardly from the underside of the boomand apron B. These brackets support a cross shaft EG on either end ofwhich are mounted rollers E7. These rollers are adapted to travel alongthe inclined track ES on the quadrant E12. These tracks are parallelwith the tracks B and that is the preferred arrangement, though it isobvious that much the same operation might be obtained if the tracks E8were incline with respect to the track B. E, E9 are removable coverplates associated with the tracks E8 held in place by the screw E1o andin E11, the arrangement of the parts being such that when the pin E11 isremoved, the cover plate E9 can be moved about the point E1o far enoughto allow the rollers E7 to be rotated away from the track when the boomswings aboutits pivot point on the shaft BG. Under ordinary conditionsthis is notA permitted, and the cover plates, when tightly held inplace, totally prevent any swinging or rotation of the boom, andconstrain it to a longitudinal movement parallel with its axis. Thepresence of these rollers and their association with these trackelements adds greatly to the strength and rigidity of the structure,because, since the rollers are farther apart than the width of the boom,and since they are very close to the loading or excavating end of theboom, local change in resistance and local variations in the load on theboom are resisted by these rollers, thus greatly minimizing thetortional loads carried back by the boom to the supporting rollers B1. Xis one of the axles or shafts of the vehicle.

Since it is frequently desirable with an excavator loader such as theone in question to dig out from a point below the support for themachinery, it is well to have the digging end of the boom extend somedistance forward from the truck which carries the boom, but since it isdesirable to have the boom discharge into wagons or cars which arelocated back of the truck, it is desirable that the rear end of the boomor the loading or conveying means associated with the rear end of theboom overhang a considerable distance so that the load may preferably bedischarged into the middle of a truck or wagon body without interferencefrom the crawler loader. Experience shows that these two requirementsare best met by placing the pivot point of the boom at about thegeometric longitudinal center of the boom. is in operation it is alwaysattended and always being watched, whereas when it is not in operationit is not being attended and watched, experience shows that it is wellto have it remain in stable equilibrium in the inl operative position,and in instable equilibrium, if necessary, in the operative position.Therefore, if the boom and its associated parts are so proportioned thatthe center of gravity is to the rear and above the pivot point, if it isdesired to collapse the boom this is done without any manipulation ofthe cables holding the rollers in position on thc inclined track. Allthat is necessary is to remove the pin, slide the track cover plates toone side, and permit the boom to swing under the influence of gravityinto the horizontal position, where the underside of the boom rests upona stop F on the rear side of the frame. In order to control thisswinging movement and limit the speed at which the boom rotates, as wellas to make it convenient to again tilt the boom into the workingposition when it is desired, a cable F1 is deadended on the boom at apoint F2 between its pivot point and its forward end extends about asheave F3 on the supporting frame A. and is wound about a drum F4provided with a crank F5 whereby the operator may control And since,when the loader l:

the rate at which the cable is paid out, and 13 this shaft is a drivesprocket F6. Over this drive sprocket travels a chain, one side of whichextends over an idler sprocket F7 on the shaft B6, thence around adriving sprocket F8 associated with the gear case A5, thence back aroundan idler sprocket F9 and thence back around the sprocket F6. This chainis indicated at F10. In order to take up the slack in this chain andkeep it tight at all positions of the boom, the idler sprocket F9 iscarried on one arm to a bell crank lever F11, the other arm of whichcarries a spring F12, the other end of the spring being associated withthe link F13 dead-ended on the boom. The spring is strong enough to holdthe chain tight under all normal driving conditions, and as the booml isrotating or as the boom is longitudinally displaced, this spring alwaystakes up the slack while at the same time permitting free tiltling orlongitudinal movement of the boom without in any way interfering withthe driving function of the chain.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows- The device ofthis application is intended primarily for use as a loader,-that is, foruse in picking up material which may be on the ground or any otherspace, raising this material and discharging it into a bin, a vehiclebody or other place. In the form shown herewith, the loader is mountedon an automotive vehicle and it is adapted to be driven into a pile ofmaterial, to raise it and discharge it into a suitable receptacle. Itmay also serve as a digging machine and may dig directly into theground, and in certain positions of adjustment it may dig at a levelbelow the level upon which the vehicle itself stands.

The device is shown in the figures in the operating position. In thatposition the boom is free to slide down until it contacts the ground orother surface from which the loading takes place. The boom is supportedupon the two pairs of tracks. As these tracks are shown, they aresubstantially parallel with each other, but this is not essential. Theboom is supported in a position above the ground by the main hoistingcable. This Y cable may be paid out so as to permit the boom to slidedownward along the tracks and when this has happened, the digging end ofthe boom rests upon the ground, as shown in Figure l. The device is thenset in operation and the conveyor on the boom takes material from theground, raises it along the boom and discharges it at the upper endthrough the chute and into any suitable receptacle. The gatheringmechanism at the sides of the digging end of the boom serves to drawmaterial to the feed end of the conveyor so that it may be picked up bythe conveyor. The machine as a whole is driven usually forward at asuitable speed so that as material is taken away, the machine is driveninto the zone where it may collect further material. Under certaincircumstances, the boom may be permitted to rest upon the ground withits entire weight, that is, the

cable may be so paid out that it exerts no supporting effect. The Weightof the boom and its associated parts then tends to dig into the groundand the machine may thus act as a digger, and may dig below the surfaceupon which the tread of the vehicle stands. I

The boom as shown, is top heavy, and when free to rotate, it tips up outof the digging position. shaped and the upper flanges are removable.Thus when it is desired to move the boom out of the digging position,these upper flanges of the lower track are unbolted or otherwise removedand the boom will then 1 tilt so that the digging end is raised from thedigging position and so that the boom then assumes a more or lesshorizontal posis tion. This is a position for us when the machine isbeing driven from place to place and at other times when digging istaking place the small hand driven cable may be controlled to brake thetilting movement of the boom from the digging position so that it doesnot tilt downward too rapidly or too violently. By means of this cablealso the amount of such tilting movement of the boom may be controlledand for certain purposes the boom may be tilted into an intermediateposition between the full digging position and the full horizontalposition.

The position of the boom along the tracks is controlled by the mainhoisting cable. The boom may be permitted to slide down along the tracksin thel position shown in Figure 1 or it may be raised above thisposition to the top of the track. It is free to slide up and down alongthe track in response to jolts or shocks which may come upon it duringthe loading operation and thus a cushioning effect is provided when themachine comes up against some obstacle and breakage or straining ofparts is avoided. It is to be noted that this rearward movement of theboom in response to striking such obstacles is not a tilting movement,but is merely a sliding movement, the boom moving upward along thetracks. No tilting of the boom can occur until the upper ianges of thelower set of tracks have been removed and then the boom may be allowedto tilt.

l/Vhen it is desired to bring the boom into the digging position fromthe inoperative position, the small hand cable is operated to tilt theboom. The position of the boom along The lower tracks are channel thetracks is regulated by the main hoisting cable. IVhen the boom has beendrawn down by the small hand cable until the lower rollers contact thelower tracks, the upper flanges of these tracks are put in operation andthereafter they resist tilting of the boom.

An important feature of the operation of the device is the rectilinearmovement of the boom. As it has been expressed above when the device inworking encounters an obstacle,

he boom is mounted to permit upward yieldinO so as to avoid breakage andundue st-rains. This upward yielding movement is not a rotary movement.Thus when such yielding occurs, the boom moves upward without anyrotating or tilting and when free to do so, moves downward again. Theoperator can, of course, raise the boom by operating the hoistingmechanism and when the boom is so raised, its motion is of courserectilinear and is without tilting. The boom may be raised by theoperator when an obstacle is encountered on the ground or it may belowered into a depression or in any way adjusted to suit the needs ofthe use to which it is put. If the boom is permitted to tilt as itraises, for example, over an obstacle, it will, as it comes down, comedown on top of the obstacle, and thus it has a tendency to climb up onthe pile of material. There the movement is rectilinear, as in thisdevice, there is no such climbing tendency. In the form of the inventionhere shown it is, therefore, an important feature that the movement ofthe boom, whether as a result of the control of the operator or as aresult of contact with obstacles, is always rectilinear and there is notilting or rotary motion of any sort.

IVe claim:

l. In a loader, a support, a loading boom supported from such supportfor movement therealong, such boom being top heavy and tending normallyautomatically to move out of the digging position.

2. In a loader, a support, a loading boom supported from such supportfor movement therealong, such boom being top heavy and tending normallyautomatically to move out of the digging position, and means adaptc dfor retaining the boom in the digging position.

3. In a loader, an inclined support, a boom mounted on such inclinedsupport for movement therealong, said boom being top heavy and tendingnormally to swing out of the digging position.

4. In a loader, an inclined support, a boom movably mounted on suchinclined support, means for raising the boom along such support, saidboom being top heavy and tending normally to swing out of the diggingposition.

5. In a loader, an inclined support, a boom movably mounted on suchinclined support, means for raising the boom along such support, saidboom being top heavy and tending normally to swing out of the diggingposition, in combination with selective means for holding it in thedigging position.

6. In a loader, a plurality of tracks, a boom supported from suchtracks, selective means for holding it generally in the diggingposition, the boom being free for limited movement in a plane parallelto the tracks when in the digging position.

7. In a loader, an automotive vehicle, a plurality of tracks, a boomsupported from such tracks, said boom being top heavy and tendingnormally, when free to move, to move out of the digging position, andselective means for holding it generally in the digging position, theboom being free for limited movement in a plane parallel to the trackswhen in the digging position.

8. In a loader, a plurality of series of tracks, a boom mounted formovement along such tracks in combination with hoisting means adapted toraise the boom bodily along the tracks, such boom being top heavy andtending, when free to move, to move out of the digging position.

9. In a` loader, a plurality of series of tracks, a boom mounted formovement along such tracks in combination with hoisting means adapted toraise the boom bodily along the tracks, such boom being top heavy andtending, when free to move, to move out of the digging position togetherwith means for holding it in the digging position.

10. In a loader, a plurality of series of tracks, each beingsubstantially parallel to the other, a boom mounted for movement alongsuch tracks, in combination with hoisting means adapted to raise theboom bodily along the tracks.

11. In a loader, a. plurality of series of tracks, each beingsubstantially parallel to the other, a boom mounted for movement alongsuch tracks, in combination with hoisting means adapted to raise theboom bodily along the tracks, such boom being top heavy and tending,when free to move, to move out of the digging position, together withmeans for holding it in the digging position.

12. In a loader, an automotive vehicle, a plurality of series of tracks,each being substantially parallel to the other, a boom mounted formovement along such tracks, and provided with rollers adapted to movealong such tracks, in combination with hoisting means adapted to raisethe boom bodily along the tracks, such boom being top heavy and tending,when free to move, to move out of the digging position, together withmeans for holding it in the digging position.

13. A loader, an inclined support, a boom assembly mounted for tiltingand other movement with relation to such suport, a pivotal support forsuch boom assembly, and cable means for moving the boom along suchsupport, said cable means including a sheave mounted outside of the boomand fixed above the pivot point of such boom assembly.

14. In a loader, an automotive vehicle, a loading boom movably supportedfrom such vehicle for tilting and sliding movement, such boom being topheavy and tending` normally automatically to move out of the diggingposition, and selective means adapted' for retaining the boom in thedigging position.

15. In combination in a loader, a plurality of tracks, a boom, rollersupon said boom adapted to support the boom upon said tracks, one of saidtracks formed to engage one of said rollers to hold the same in.engagement with said track, whereby th-e boom is permitted to movealong said tracks and held against tilting with relation thereto.

16. In combination in a loader, a plurality of series of tracks, a boom,rollers upon said boom adapted to support the boom upon said tracks, oneof said tracks formed to engage one of said rollers to hold the same inengagement with said track, whereby the boom is permitted to move alongsaid tracks and held' against tilting' with relation thereto.

17. In combination in a loader, a vehicle, a plurality of series oftracks on said vehicle, a boom, rollers upon said boom adapted tosupport the boom upon saidv tracks, one of said tracks provided with amember adapted to engage one of said rollers to hold the same inengagement with said track, whereby the boom is permitted to move alongsaid tracks and held against tilting with relation thereto.

18. In combination in a loader, a vehicle, a plurality of series oftracks on said vehicle, a boom, rollers upon said boom adapted tosupport the boom upon said tracks, one of said tracks provided with aremovable member adapted to engage one of said rollers to hold the samein engagement with said track whereby the boomis permitted to move alongsaid tracks and held against tilting with relation thereto.

19. In combination in a loader, a vehicle, a plurality of tracks carriedupon such vehicle, a boom tiltably mounted for movement along vehicle,said last mentioned tracks formed to engage said last mentioned rollerand to hold the same in register with said tracks,

whereby sliding movement of the boom is permitted and tilting movementprevented.

Signed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 29th day of November, 1927.

FERDINAND F. WAECHTER. LOUIS F. SNYDER.

said tracks and provided with rollers contacting said tracks, said boombeing provided at one end with a digging part, and means for receivingthe thrust of digging7 said means including additional rollers upon suchboom and additional tracks upon such vehicle.

20. In combination in a loader, a vehicle, a plurality of tracks carriedupon such vehicle, a boom tiltably mounted for movement along saidtracks and provided with rollers contacting said tracks, said boom beingprovided at one end with a digging part, and means for receiving thethrust of digging, said means including additional rollers upon suchboom and additional tracks upon such

